Democrats will spend big in 1st District

A Democratic “SuperPAC” and a big labor union have reserved $800,000 in Seattle media market airtime this fall as part of a $20 million fall TV buy targeted at 47 congressional districts around the country.

The money will be spent on Washington’s sprawling 1st District, reconfigured as incumbent Democratic Rep. Jay Inslee quit to concentrate on his race for Governor. Five Democrats are vying for the seat, with one expected to face Republican John Koster in the fall.

The 1st District begins at the U.S.-Canadian border. It stretches through suburban and rural stretches of Whatcom, Skagit and Snohomish Counties, embraces the technology centers of Redmond and Kirkland, and extends south into the Snoqualmie Valley.

About $16 million of the $20 million buy comes from the House Majority PAC, another $3.7 million from the Service Employees International Union.

The 2.1 million member SEIU has endorsed one of the candidates — Suzan DelBene, a former state finance director and Microsoft executive — competing in the August primary.

The new 1st District includes much of the old 2nd District. It was designed to be the most competitive House seat in the country, according to former Republican Sen. Slade Gorton, a member of the state redistricting commission.

Republicans will have equal or perhaps greater resources in the fall. Las Vegas casino magnate Sheldon Adelson just gave $5 million to “Young Guns,” a SuperPAC linked to House Majority Leader Eric Cantor that is giving money to promising GOP candidates.

DelBene has put $300,000 of her own money into the 1st District race, and is supported by big unions (Teamsters, Boeing Machinists, SEIU) and Gov. Chris Gregoire.

She is opposed by former State Rep. Laura Ruderman, State Sen. Steve Hobbs, two-time Democratic House nominee Darcy Burner, and entrepreneur and political newcomer Darshan Rauniyar.

The Democrats need to win back 25 seats in 2012 to regain control of the House of Representatives.